Copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus

ABSTRACT

A copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus including guide rollers to apply a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of a rotating drum with one side edge of the copying paper extending from one side edge of the rotating drum and separation roller for separating the copying paper carrying an image from the drum by slidingly contacting with the inner surface of said one side edge of the copying paper.

United States Patent Ishida 1 Dec. 2, 1975 [5 COPYING PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR 3,770,345 11/1973 Kawakubo et al. 355/3 R ELECTRONIC COPYING APPARATUS FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Inventor: Tsutomu lshida, Musashino, Japan 958,832 9/1949 France 271/010. 2

[73] Assignee: Copyer Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan Primary ExaminerRichard A. Schacher [22] Fledt Sept- 1973 Assistant ExaminerBruce H. Stoner, Jr. [21] AppL 401,714 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby &

Cushman [30] Foreign Application Priority Data ABSTRACT Oct. 4, 1972 Japan 47-115099[U] I A copymg paper feeding device for electronic copymg [52] Us. Cl I I i 27l/l74, 271N310 2 apparatus including guide rollers to apply a copying [51 Int. (:1. B65H 29/56 Paper Onto the photosensitive surface of a rotating 58 Field of Search 271/174, 80, DIG. 2, 51, drum with One Side edge of the @OPYing Paper extend' 271/53. 355/3 R ing from one side edge of the rotating drum and separation roller for separating the copying paper carrying [56] References Cited an image from the drum by slidingly contacting with UNITED STATES PATENTS the inner surface of said one side edge of the copying p'aper. 1,044,450 11/1912 Gammeter 271/D1G. 2 3,096,977 7/1963 Winkler et a1. 271/51 x 3 ClalmS, 3 Drawlng Flgures US. Patent Dec. 2, 1975 3,923,298

COPYING PAPER FEEDING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC COPYING APPARATUS This invention relates to a copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus, adapted to apply a copying paper on the photosensitive surface of a rotation drum and, after an image carried on the rotation drum is transferred to the copying paper, separating the image bearing copying paper from the rotation drum.

With electronic copying apparatus, a copying paper is intimately carried on the photosensitive surface of a rotation drum so that an image preliminarily formed on the drum is transferred to the copying paper. After an image transfer, the image bearing copying paper is required to be separated from the rotation drum for the next process. For this purpose, a vacuum suction means is adapted. That is, a copying paper intimately carried on a rotation drum is separated under a suction force using a vacuum pump. Thus, a positive separation of the copying paper from the rotation drum is assured. However, the device itself is intricate in design and larger in size. Furthermore, a high cost results.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple, inexpensive, small-sized copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus which assures a positive separation of a copying paper from a rotation drum.

According to one embodiment of this invention there is provided a copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus provided with a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface, said copying paper feeding device including means for applying a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of the rotation drum with one side edge of the copying paper extending from one side edge of the rotation drum, and means for separating the copying paper from the rotation drum by slidingly contacting with the inner surface of said one side edge of the copying paper.

This invention can be more fully understood from the following detailed description when taken in connection with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a copying paper feeding device according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a modified separating mechanism of the copying paper feeding device.

Explanation is now made of one embodiment of a copying paper feeding device according to this invention by referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 conjointly.

In these Figures, a reference numeral 1 is a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface as used in a con- .ventional electronic copying apparatus. The drum is carried within the housing by a horizontal shaft 2 supported by supporting members (not shown) and is rotatable at a predetermined speed in a direction shown by an arrow in FIG. 1. On both the sides of the rotation drum 1 a paper applying mechanism 3 for applying a copying paper to the rotation drum and a separating mechanism 4 for separating the copying paper from the rotation drum are respectively provided. A copying paper feeding device includes the paper applying mechanism and the separating mechanism. The paper applying mechanism has a case 7 for receiving a plurality of copying papers 8 stacked one over the other, and a feed roller 5 adapted to contact with a paper at the top of the stacked papers to permit it to be applied to the rotation drum 1. The feed roller 5 is rotatably mounted at the end of an arm 5a whose base end is pivoted, and is rotated through a drive mechanism (not shown). At the forward end of the case 7 a pair of guide rollers 6 are provided to cause the paper 8 to be applied from the feed roller 5 to be supplied forwardly to permit it to be guided between the rotation drum and a known image transferring mechanism 9. The arrangement of the case 7, paper feeding roller 5 and guide rollers 6 is such that a copying paper is fed to the rotation drum 1 with its side edge portion 8a projecting from one side edge la of the rotation drum 1. As a simple example, a mechanism the same as a conventional paper feeding mechanism may be positioned in a manner to be deviated relative to one side edge of the rotation drum.

The paper separation mechanism 4 is adapted to separate from the drum 1 a copying paper having an image transferred at an image transferring mechanism and then supply it towards a delivery outlet (not shown) of a copying apparatus. The paper separation mechanism 4 has a belt conveyor consisting of a pair of rollers 10 disposed at a predetermined interval and endless belts 1 1 trained between the rollers 10. The image bearing copying paper is fed towards the delivery outlet by rotating the rollers 10 and thus driving the endless belt 1 1 in a direction shown by an arrow. On the rotation drum side of the belt conveyor is provided a separating means 12 for separating the image bearing copying paper from the drum 1 and guiding it onto the belt conveyor. The separating means has a separating roller 14 rotatably provided above the roller 10 in a manner to be displaced from one side edge la of the rotation drum, and a guide plate 13 provided above the roller 10 in a manner to be substantially parallel to the top surface of the belt with a slight space left between the guide plate and the belt. In this preferred embodiment, the guide plate 13 has a recessed portion 13a at its side surface as shown in detail in FIG. 2 and the separating roller 14 is positioned within the recessed portion. The roller 14 and guide plate 13 are supported by a shaft 14a. The roller 14 is rotatable and the guide plate 13 is swingable about the shaft 14a. The guide plate 13 is positioned in a manner to be displaced a little from one side edge 1a of the rotation drum.

The roller 14 is adapted to contact with that portion of the copying paper projecting from the side edge 1a of the rotation drum 1 to cause the copying paper to be separated from the drum 1.

There will be explained the function of the copying paper separating mechanism of the copying apparatus having the above construction.

The rotation drum of the copying apparatus has a predetermined surface portion electrostatically and photoelectrically treated during rotation by well known means. A copying paper 8 is travelled by the paper applying mechanism 3 in a direction indicated by an arrow and, when the predetermined surface portion so treated of the rotation drum comes to a suitable position, applied onto the surface portion of the drum. The copying paper 8 attached to the drum 1 is rotated therewith to the transferring mechanism 9 so that the image on the photosensitive surface may be transmitted to the copying paper 8. As will be understood from the above explanation, the copying paper 8 brought into contact with the predetermined surface of the rotation drum is rotated together with the rotation drum with its portion projecting from the side edge la of the rotation drum and is subjected to an image transfer.

The image bearing copying paper 8 is separated from the surface of the rotation drum through its side edge portion 8a slidably engaged with the separation roller 14 and directed from below the guide plate 13 towards the endless belt 11 as the drum is rotated. Then, the image bearing copying paper is travelled on the belt conveyor and sent to a fixing mechanism (not shown) where it is fixed. Thereafter, the image bearing copying paper is sent to the outside through the delivery outlet (not shown).

With the copying paper feeding device according to this invention, separation of a copying paper from the rotation drum can be assured by causing that side edge portion of the copying paper projecting from one side edge of the rotation drum to be brought into a sliding contact with the separation roller. The construction of the paper feeding device per se is substantially the same as a conventional paper feeding mechanism. For separation purpose, a separation roller, a guide plate etc. which are simple in design are used. Thus, the paper separating mechanism is very simple in construction as compared with the conventional one using the vacuum suction means.

FIG. 3 shows a modification of a paper separating mechanism. With this modification a guide plate is provided in a manner that its one end extends parallel to one side wall of the rotation drum. The base end of the guide plate 20 is pivoted near the photosensitive surface of the drum by pivoting means. The guide plate 20 has a flat under surface and, at its intermediate portion thereof, a projection 20a inclined downwardly. Below the projection 20a one end of a belt 11 of a belt conveyor is positioned. The front surface of the projection 20a is inclined at an obtuse angle to the flat undersurface of the guide plate to provide a copying paper guiding surface with the inclined surface of the projection and the flat under surface. A guide roller 21 is rotatably mounted on the side surface of the guide plate 20 in a manner that part of the guide roller projects in an intersection drawn between the inclined surface of the projection and the flat under surface. Below the guide roller 21 a rubber roller 22 is provided so as to be contacted with, and rotated together with, the guide roller. As a result, when the rotation drum is rotated through some extent in a direction indicated by an arrow, the forward end of the projecting side edge portion of a copying paper carried on the rotation drum is abutted on the under surface of the guide plate 20 to permit the copying paper to be sent, along the lower surface of the guide plate, to a nip between the pinch rollers 21 and 22. Then, the copying paper is withdrawn from between the pinch rollers 21 and 22,

passed downwardly along the inclined surface of the projection of the guide plate and transmitted to a conveyor belt, and then to a delivery outlet as in the case of the above embodiment.

The use of the guide plate and pinch rollers described above assures a positive separation and transmission of the copying paper from the rotation drum.

I claim:

1. A copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus provided with a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface, said copying paper feeding device including means for applying a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of the rotation drum with at least one side edge of the copying paper extending beyond one side edge of the rotation drum, means for separating the copying paper from the rotation drum including a separation roller provided in proximity to said drum to be contacted with said one surface of said one edge and a guide plate member having a lower surface along which the copying paper is guided from the separation roller, said guide plate being swingable about the rotation axis of said separation roller and mounted adjacent said drum for slidingly contacting with one surface of said one side edge extending beyond said one side edge of said drum of the copying paper which faces the photosensitive surface, and transporting means to which the copying paper from said separating means is supplied.

2. A copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus provided with a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface, said copying paper feeding device including means for applying a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of the rotation drum with at least one side edge of the copying paper extending beyond one side edge of the rotation drum, and means for separating the copying paper from the rotationdrum including a swingable guide plate member whose one end extends toward the inside of said drum to guide the copying paper along the lower surface of the guide plate and whose base end is pivoted, said guide plate having a flat under surface and a projection extending at an obtuse angle to the flat under surface, and being mounted adjacent said drum for slidingly contacting with one surface of said one side edge extending beyond said one side edge of said drum of the copying paper which faces the photosensitive surface.

3. A copying paper feeding device according to claim 2 in which said separating means further includes a pinch roller whose portion extends in an intersection drawn between the inclined surface of the projection and the lower surface of the guide plate, said pinch roller being frictionally engaged with the copying paper to permit it to be guided. 

1. A copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus provided with a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface, said copying paper feeding device including means for applying a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of the rotation drum with at least one side edge of the copying paper extending beyond one side edge of the rotation drum, means for separating the copying paper from the rotation drum including a separation roller provided in proximity to said drum to be contacted with said one surface of said one edge and a guide plate member having a lower surface along which the copying paper is guided from the separation roller, said guide plate being swingable about the rotation axis of said separation roller and mounted adjacent said drum for slidingly contacting with one surface of said one side edge extending beyond said one side edge of said drum of the copying paper which faces the photosensitive surface, and transporting means to which the copying paper from said separating means is supplied.
 2. A copying paper feeding device for electronic copying apparatus provided with a rotation drum having a photosensitive surface, said copying paper feeding device including means for applying a copying paper onto the photosensitive surface of the rotation drum with at least one side edge of the copying paper extending beyond one side edge of the rotation drum, and means for separating the copying paper from the rotation drum including a swingable guide plate member whose one end extends toward the inside of said drum to guide the copying paper along the lower surface of the guide plate and whose base end is pivoted, said guide plate having a flat under surface and a projection extending at an obtuse angle to the flat under surface, and being mounted adjacent said drum for slidingly contacting with one surface of said one side edge extending beyond said one side edge of said drum of the copying paper which faces the photosensitive surface.
 3. A copying paper feeding device according to claim 2 in which said separating means further includes a pinch roller whose portion extends in an intersection drawn between the inclined surface of the projection and the lower surface of the guide plate, said pinch roller being frictionally engaged with the copying paper to permit it to be guided. 